ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS -- Not only did the Ellsworth CC volleyball team start the season by sweeping all four matches they played in a tournament over the weekend, but the Panthers got that sweep by taking all three sets in every match.  ECC began with a 3-0 win against Black Hawk-Moline (25-9, 25-10, 25-8) and followed by blanking Bryant & Stratton (WI) (25-17, 25-9, 25-15), Kalamazoo Valley (MI) (25-15, 25-18, 25-12) and Bay College (MI) (25-20, 25-7, 25-19) for a perfect beginning to the 2023 season for coach Sara Jesse, now in her 6th year as head coach.

The opening match featured a .400 hitting percentage for Ellsworth, led by 8 kills apiece for Sofia Betteni and Ana Clara Cuartero and 7 by Manon Morillon.  Dallymar Panell, one of only 2 sophomores on the roster, piled up 14 assists, Betteni had 9 digs and Morillon 8, and the Panthers served 16 aces, including 6 for Panell and 4 by Adriana Ramos, the other soph.

Against Bryant & Stratton, Betteni and Morillon each had 10 kills and Ramos and Cuartero had 8 apiece.  Panell had 24 assists and 3 aces, the same number of aces as Ludine Charron.  Betteni and Morillon led the defense with 13 digs each.

The Kalamazoo Valley match saw Cuartero lead the way with 10 kills, one more than Betteni.  Elitsa Peneva shared the setting duties with Panell and they chalked up 20 and 13 assists, respectively.  Charron had 5 of ECC's 11 ace serves and the Panthers recorded 56 digs, with Cuartero topping the list with 15.  Betteni added 14 and Charron 10.

Ellsworth completed the sweep in the match with Bay College as Betteni had 10 kills, Peneva led with 17 assists and 11 digs, and there were 13 more aces, 5 by Betteni.  Panell added 9 digs.

The first home action will be this Wednesday when the Panthers host the Clarke JV and Riverland College at Dittmer Gym.